Social Enterprise Support
Pillar offers resources, workshops, consulting and financing to support the start-up and growth of social enterprises. Read on below about how our support can help guide you along your social enterprise journey. Connect with our team to ask questions, receive guidance and access resources.
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Examples of Social Enterprise in London
Socialpreneur Chats
Want to meet other social innovators and entrepreneurs? Drop by and join our peer group the last Friday morning of each month from 9:30 AM - 11am at Innovation Works, 1st floor Commons. Facilitated by a Pillar team member, this is an opportunity to meet other individuals and organization invested in social enterprise.
Come with an idea to share, a challenge to discuss, or a listening ear. Although this is a drop-in session, while Socialpreneur Chats are virtual, we ask that you register in order to access the link to the event.
Find more information on this and other upcoming Pillar events.
Libro Social Enterprise Incubator
Are you starting a new social enterprise? Embedding social purpose into an existing organization? Creating a sustainable financial model for your nonprofit? Give yourself the best chance of success by immersing yourself in the right environment.
Check out information about the incubator, eligibility criteria, and the application process
Check out what past participants have to say
Key highlights
- 10 weeks of social enterprise & business development workshops
- 5 hours of 1-1 social enterprise coaching
- Monthly networking / group coaching sessions
- 12 months free access to Innovation Works
- 12 months free Pillar Nonprofit Network membership
- 2 vouchers to attend free Learning & Development sessions*
- Up to $200 allowance to be used towards eligible expenses**
- Access to business plan templates & other social enterprise resources
*Subject to availability, some restrictions may apply
**Expenses subject to approval by Pillar Nonprofit Network
Applications open in August. Check out the website to see if applications are open here.
Pollinating Purpose
Pollinating Purpose is a show from Pillar Nonprofit Network all about supporting organizations who seek to create social impact through their work. Whether nonprofit, for-profit, or grassroots organizations, listeners will learn key considerations to building or growing their own social purpose businesses in a long-term and sustainable way. Alongside this learning, they will have the opportunity to listen to guests share stories of doing similar work in their own communities; the sticky spots, the highlights, and the barriers they had to navigate to operate a business with community care at its core.
Our hope is to educate, inform, and inspire the audience on how to make the best decisions for them, their organization, and the community they seek to support. A just, equitable, and joyful future is possible when we centre care in the work that we do. Learn more and listen now.
The Women of Ontario Social Enterprise Network (WOSEN)
The Women of Ontario Social Enterprise Network (WOSEN) is a provincial collaborative working to broaden and diversify the entrepreneurial ecosystem by supporting women-identified and gender non-binary individuals from underrepresented and underserved communities in starting or growing their social enterprise. Led by Pillar Nonprofit Network, WOSEN runs in partnership the Centre for Social Innovation (CSI), SVX and NORDIK Institute’s Social Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (SEE).
Through a suite of programs across Ontario that are designed to foster enterprise development, build knowledge and create more equitable and inclusive enterprise supports, WOSEN seeks to:
1. Help create 150 new social enterprises and expand 75 existing ones.
2. Help 250 individuals build capacity and co-create networks of women in work.
3. Help entrepreneurs find and access $3.5 million in capital.
Impact Consulting
Looking for personalized support for your social enterprise? Impact Consulting by Pillar Nonprofit Network provides consulting services designed to amplify the social impact of nonprofit organizations, social enterprises, and social purpose businesses. We offer customized and expert strategic consultation and coaching for nonprofit and for-profit social enterprises. We assist individual social entrepreneurs and organizations wishing to conceive, design, launch or expand a social enterprise.
From afternoon strategy sessions to full feasibility studies and business plans, we are here to support your team. Please note, there may be grants and bursaries available to help fund our consulting support.
Learn more about Impact Consulting
VERGE Capital
VERGE Capital is the social finance program of Pillar Nonprofit Network and supports local economies and communities across Southwestern Ontario.
We provide affordable loans ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 for new or early stage social enterprises, and up to $500,000 for larger-scale community infrastructure like green energy projects, nature conservation, affordable housing developments, community hubs, or arts and cultural spaces.
Since 2015, VERGE Capital has invested over $4 million in local social enterprises who are tackling Southwestern Ontario’s most challenging social and environmental issues.
Learn more about VERGE Capital
Social Enterprise Resources
- The London Bizgrid: Your guide to the London, Ontario Business Support Network
- FindYourAnswers.biz: A “first step” in making connections between entrepreneurs and service providers in London, Ontario
- Social Enterprise Institute: An online community and platform of paid resources, courses and tools for social entrepreneurs.
- Innoweave: An online platform of free webinars, tools, coaching and grants to support social innovation and social enterprise.
- Shoshent: A guide to available social enterprise resources, workshops, accelerators and funding in Ontario.
Our support for Social Enterprise is made possible by...
